The widespread destruction of homes from the LA fires has led to insurance cancellations and the loss of cherished keepsakes amidst the chaos. However, communities are stepping up to support affected citizens.
The Palisade Fire and Eaton Fire started on January 7 2025, with the most probable cause considered the heavy wind conditions in a drywood climate. Since then, at least 27 people have been killed, and almost 40000 acres and more than 12,000 structures have been burned. This caused countless citizens to flee their homes to try their best to stay safe whilst their county was engulfed in flames.
The effect of the LA fires cannot be understated. They are considered to be the second and fourth most destructive in state history, causing millions of dollars worth of damage and even more in sentimentality. Beloved schools, museums and buildings ruined because of the fires and unable to be recovered, only rebuilt.
Even so, numerous insurance companies have made the decision to drop policies starting July 2024 to no longer insure several Los Angeles ZIP codes due to the high risk of wildfires in the area. This was a crisis prevalent long before the fires broke out, but the recent events have brought the issue to the public’s attention.
This means that the residents and homeowners had to get coverage through last resort, the California Fair Access (FAIR) Plan, which insures people living in wildfire prone areas who couldn’t, or simply have no insurance at all. “Prior to the disaster, about 1 in 7 homeowners were reliant on the FAIR Plan,” states CBS on January 16.
The FAIR Plan also has some controversy surrounding it, however. Past victims claim that they are difficult to work with, made minimal contributions and did not cover damage costs in the slightest. This leads to the question of what residents should do in order to get paid for their losses.
On top of the insurance scare, some unfortunate messages surrounding the people that were affected include a general lack of empathy for their situation. What most people don’t realize is that the amount of valuable pieces in people’s homes that go beyond materialistic means is worth more than any money they could spend. This makes restoring anything to its previous glory is practically impossible, but the general public does not seem to care.
Too many people have voiced their concerns on social media, news sources and broadcasting networks only to be shunned because they “chose” to live in an area where wildfires are common. The people that were brave enough to speak out and advocate for their community only received criticism from the public, saying it is their fault and telling them not to grieve for lost possessions when their lives are at stake.
Even though this situation seems to only have bleak responses, there are a lot of organizations, resources and awareness being outpoured onto social media and news sources. Non-profit organizations are partnering with local high schools to provide resources and materials to victims. Many have started fundraisers to fund specific cases or support the broader ongoing crisis. Shelters have formed throughout the state to ensure safety and supplies to everyone who is in need. Donation centers opened so that everybody has a way to help the people that suffered. The community is stepping up. The unification of our county and state is greater than its negativity and distance.
If you would like to donate or volunteer to help LA fire victims, make sure to do your research so that your money, supplies and time can help the most people struggling.
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